You’re probably familiar with those women’s magazine features that show what’s inside of a certain celebrity’s purse, beach bag, etc. While I think those are fun to read, as a former PR girl (and a bit of a cynic), I’m always wondering how much (if not all) of that is product placement. Wouldn’t you like to really see what’s inside someone’s bag?

Well, I’m heading to Hawaii with my husband in a few weeks, and since that’s all I can think about right now, I thought I’d give you a little insight into what I’m packing.

I know I’m not a celebrity, but I am actually bringing all of these items on my trip, and no one is paying me to say so (but if anyone wants to I can tell you where to send a check). I might not be as interesting as Jennifer Lawrence or Miley Cyrus, but I scored some awesome deals on fun stuff for this trip, so I thought I’d share. Who doesn’t love to be a little bit voyeuristic? Here you go:

1. No matter what I do, I can’t seem to resist buying new bathing suits for vacation. I bought two for my honeymoon this spring, but they were both lighter colors and already look dingy. This time, I decided to go for a darker more classic color. Most stores don’t have bathing suits now since it’s technically Fall, but I found this great navy blue Merona bikini online at Target (top & bottom). I really love this classic silhouette, which is sexy without being too skimpy. It’s a little more expensive than some other Target suits, but way less than what you’d pay elsewhere for something of similar quality–  and it looks expensive!

2. I pretty much don’t go anywhere without these at least one of these Mossimo Boyfriend Tees from Target. They’re comfy and cute, and go with pretty much anything. They’re great for vacation because you can keep them casual or dress them up with a fun statement necklace.

3. & 4. I like to keep my daytime makeup routine pretty simple on vacation, but mascara is a must-have, and this one from Cover Girl is my favorite. I’ve tried numerous samples of more expensive mascaras from Sephora, but I go back to this one every time. I also love MAC’s Viva Glam VI Lip Glass. I originally purchased this to touch up my lips for my wedding, but it has become a staple for me now. This gloss is a soft and pretty pink, which adds just the right amount of color for a neutral look.

5. I’ve been eyeing this J.Crew Whisper Gauze Beach Tunic since it came out early this summer, but I just couldn’t swallow the $72 price tag. You can only imagine how excited I was to score it for about $15 when they were offering an extra 40% off summer clearance. It’s extremely comfortable and actually offers pretty good coverage considering that it’s somewhat sheer. I can’t wait to wear this to the beach!

6. I initially bought these Nike sneakers at DSW to wear on my honeymoon. I figured I’d want something comfortable for all of that touring we’d be doing, but wanted something cuter and less bulky than my running shoes. Ha! We ended up not leaving our resort once during the trip, but they will be perfect for Hawaii. We’re already signed up for a food tour and a photography tour, so I’ll definitely be wearing these (because food touring is tough on the feet, right?).

7. These chino shorts were also another J.Crew summer clearance steal. I actually got them in navy blue, but that color is sold out now. I love this purple too, but really wanted something neutral since I already have a pair of hot pink shorts I bought this summer. I’m not normally a huge fan of shorts, but I feel like they’re a necessity on vacation. These are just the right length for me and also go with pretty much anything.

8. My husband and I took very few pictures on our honeymoon because we spent most of it at the beach, and I didn’t really feel safe bringing my “nice camera” there too much. I wasn’t going to let that happen again, so I set out to find an inexpensive waterproof camera . I was really happy when I found a brand-new Olympus Stylus Tough on eBay and ended up with the winning bid (which I made when there were 20 seconds left in the auction). Not only did I score a super fun camera, but I got it for $50 off of the retail price. While I’d still be sad to loose this camera, the price tag and durability make me feel a lot more comfortable bringing it with me everywhere on vacation.

These are just a few of the items I’ll be packing for Hawaii. It seems I’ll never learn to pack light. What are some of your vacation must haves?

Nicole